Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has sought the help of historians in rectifying what could be an oversight in proclaiming revolutionary General Miguel Malvar as the rightful second President of the Philippines.
In his letter to National Historical Commission chair Maria Serena I. Diokno and heads of history departments of various universities and colleges, Binay said he received information that Malvar was Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s right-hand during the war against the United States and took over command when the latter (Aguinaldo) was captured by American forces in Palanan, Isabela.
Since he took …

by JasonandMahalia Shoup
September 7, 2011 (Wednesday) at 10:47am
Bago ko simulan ang aking makabagbag-damdaming pagbulusok ng aking saloobin ukol kay James Soriano, basahin muna ang kanyang mabilis na pinahing artikulo na iniwasto naman (grammatically) ni Migs Bassig sa link na ito:
http://migsbassig.blogspot.com/2011/08/editing-james-soriano.html
Kung gusto niyo naman nag cached version ng pinahing article na:
Language, learning, identity, privilege
Ithink
By JAMES SORIANO
August 24, 2011, 4:06am
Ito ang link:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:GMVBu5Hmx9kJ:www.mb.com.ph/articles/331851/language-learning-identity-privilege+http://mb.com.ph/articles/331851/language-learning-identity-privilege
Ngayong nabasa niyo na, magsisimula na akong mag-himutok. Hindi naayong palampasin lamang at limutin ang artikulong ito. At dahil sa kahihiyan ng Manila Bulletin, agad itong nawala sa internet dalawang araw …

How are you doing President Noynoy?
Well, my name is Reyna Elena. I was your number one supporter during the election, attacked by an unbelievable online hatred during the campaign because of my support for your presidency. Aherrm!
Oh, by the way, I thought I’d share this with you.
Here is my Elementary School in Castilla, Sorsogon. This picture was taken last week by my friend from Amsterdam. It’s one Uragon building. One unbelievable technology. The best. Western standards will drool at how mini, major and super-typhoons blasted that building away …

by David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 08/09/2011 8:54 PM
MANILA, Philippines – National Artist for Literature Bien Lumbera on Tuesday said he is disappointed that the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) decided to capitulate to the demands of Catholic groups to shut down the controversial “Kulo” art exhibit, which shows defaced religious images.
“I think that it’s an unfortunate move on the part of CCP. That leaves CCP open to pressure anytime something, an art object being displayed, raises the ire of certain sectors,” he told ABS-CBN News Channel.
“Once they give in …

JM TUAZON, GMA News
08/08/2011 | 07:13 PM
In light of the recent spate of hacking directed toward its websites, the government reiterated its support for the passage of the cybercrime and data privacy bills, saying they are not taking these attacks lightly.
In a statement, the newly formed Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said the passage of the two bills will help government agencies in combating cybercrime in the country.
“We believe that these bills, when enacted, would solidify government policy as regards these …

Photo Credit: Here
Despite being more optimistic about their financial future, Filipinos continue to get a low score when it comes to financial intelligence quotient, according to a survey by American banking giant Citibank NA.
Filipinos got a financial intelligence quotient of 48.9, or less than half the maximum score of 100, Citi said in its latest Financial Quotient (Fin-Q) Survey. The annual survey measures the Financial Quotient or financial well-being of consumers.
While the financial intelligence quotient of Filipinos in this year’s survey was a bit lower than 2009′s 49, the score …

By: Mogli
Masarap ang sex.
Mahalaga na masarap ang sex upang gawin natin ito. Sa kasalukuyan, ito ang pinakamabisang paraan ng pagpapalaganap ng sangkatauhan (o ng anumang hayop na nakasalalay ang pag-iral sa sekswal na reproduksyon). Ang sex ay produkto ng napakahabang proseso ng ebolusyon. Sa madaling salita, ‘kumbaga sa sukang-paombong, pinasarap ito ng panahon.
Sa lahat ng mga nilalang, tanging tao lamang ang may kakayahang maki-pag sex kung kailan niya gustuhin. Karaniwan kasi, ang pagtatalik ay nagaganap lamang kung kainitan na ng babaeng hayop. Ito yung tinatawag na “oestrus period” o “period …

65 students per teacher among woeful school conditions, reports the GMA News.
As schools across the country opened today, we are hearing pretty much the same thing that we’ve heard before: overcrowded schools, public schools severely lacking basic facilities like comfort rooms, etc., etc. There is news I read that, you simply cannot blame the “private school mentality” now, because parents want their kids to not only have decent education but also basic school facilities like comfort rooms.
We’re not even short of rational debate on how to improve public education. We …

Imagine my new role: Reyna Elena, La Kapita de’l Barrio Siete, defender of Jejemon rights! Bwahaha!!! But don’t laugh now. In fact, I’ve been labeled as a Jejemon already.
Jejemons are called the new jologs, labeled as people of inferior mentality. If they are of inferior intellect, then how in the world were they able to invent and be creative with a brand new language of their own? And if you’re a jejemon hater, show your prowess of superior intellect by translating their language. Care for a challenge?

Like our reader …

Recently, we heard this language fad – yeah, the jejemon language thingy – spread like wildfire among the youngsters of today. Not only the language became the fad but it also included some of the fashion too – the jejecap. And now, the fad is becoming more infectious (thanks to media), DepEd is now urging to purge the mentality out of the classrooms.
As it begins the yearly cleanup to prepare schools for the start of School Year 2010-2011, the Department of Education is also seeking to cleanse school-age Filipinos of …

Adam Wheeler is an impostor. Faked his credentials. He’s the notorious Harvard Hoax. Why is this oh so familiar?! Recto Avenue?! Morayta, perhaps?! Or is it because we’ve run across a few Pinoys who have pretty much done the same thing? Maybe not to the extent of what this guy has done.
For example, what some Pinoys would do when they get the chance to “study” in America, is to over-glamourize and/or embellish their credentials. Notice, I did not say “fake”. For example: how many times have we ran across Pinoys …

By TOTO CAUSING, President, Hukuman ng Mamamayan Movement, Inc. (HMMI)
(This is my speech on Jury System delivered on May 15, 2010 (Saturday pm) before alumni (Batch 87) of Pasay City West High School and their teachers and principal, Ms. Lourdes Garrido.)
My dear countrymen in Pasay City:
LET US CHANGE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Our justice system has already been more than 100 years old yet we see our morality in decadence.
Our justice system has already been more than 100 years old yet we see killings done with impunity. Look at how they killed …

By: Yoying Pimentel
(Translated from its original Tagalog-Bicol version. Pulled from Sylvia Morningstar’s FB)

Good afternoon to you all, good afternoon to my Barangay Captain who is present today.
Greetings and congratulations to all the parents who for years have balanced their limited budget, reduced the food on their tables and looked away from a new t-shirt they badly needed – just so they could be here today – to see their child graduate from high school.
I would also like to greet the honorable teachers who tirelessly walked under the simmering sun and …

Photo credits from MSNBC.com
It is indeed, ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES. We often refer to these lizards as BAYAWAK or BITATAWA in other local terms. Indigenous tribes such as the Agta as well as some of our rural people have found this lizard to be a tasty pulutan. There are also reports that this lizard specie is also found in the Southern provinces of Luzon such as Quezon and oftentimes, being sold as pets along the highway. Tsk.
The Philippines, known for its unique biodiversity showcasing diverse flora and fauna (and undoubtedly, …

Do you all remember Cyber Bully Eric Bordeos? The hate blogger who threatened Trixie Angeles daughter with this?

Cyber Bully Eric Bordeos, in his quest to destroy Reyna Elena, has inadvertently revealed that he supports software piracy. In his screenshot of the supposedly Dona Victorina VS Barrio Siete results on Google Insights, he gave me a clue on who he is: notice the small star on the bottom right corner of his desktop.

Did you see it? Here it is again. Notice the star on the far right hand corner at the …

Cable T.V., the internet, and iPhones have made Hollywood accessible with just a click of a button. And, unfortunately, these type of entertainment is also readily available to our children and could very well replace the roles of parents. Many are misled by the glamorous and dysfunctional lives of celebrities and “gangsters,” tagged as “real”, that it has become difficult for our youth to recognize their value in society and behave as citizens of the world. And with both mom and dad working in this present-day family, children are left behind and are very vulnerable to negative influences. (Many boys believe that real men should walk and talk like gangsters. And many girls think that “real men” have the right to treat them badly). And, working with the youth with psychiatric and behavioral challenges, it has become apparent to me that children that have received poor, or none, parenting are more susceptible to behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and social problems.

Last week, I had the opportunity to be a positive role model at my children’s elementary school through an initiative called WatchDOGS(Dads Of Great Students), a volunteer program that encourages fathers to bring positive male influences and security back in the school environment…

Here Are a Few Tips
A good education more often than not, paves the way for a good future. Due to steep competition in most professions though, a bachelor’s degree is oftentimes not enough to secure a job or climb high-up in the corporate ladder. Going abroad for graduate school offers a student a much wider horizon, in terms of training, experience, cultural integration, even communication skills. Most employers will put a premium to these. If you’re considering graduate school, here are few tips. Bear in mind though that I can …

Photo credits here.
I received a sad news this previous week from a colleague of mine: some of our former teachers have been ill lately. Like for example, my former high school science teacher has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had mastectomy (surgical removal of breasts) already and unfortunately, the cancer has already metastasized to her ovaries and bone. Surprisingly, when I asked my former biology teacher (of whom I crossed paths last Friday), I found out that this particular science teacher of mine, despite of her illness, she still …

Barrio Siete had the privilege of interviewing Efren Peñaflorida. Here’s Mahalia’s interview: An Extraordinary Life: Exclusive Interview with Efren Peñaflorida

Efren Peñaflorida was named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year at gala show attended by Hollywood stars like actress Nicole Kidman and featured performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Carrie Underwood, R&B crooner Maxwell and British pop sensation Leona Lewis. CNN’s Anderson Cooper revealed Peñaflorida’s selection at the conclusion of the third-annual “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. The Tribute airs at 9 …

Image by Nature Explorer via Flickr

I read a lot of blogs. Some of them are from online celebrities and some are from my local tribe. And recently, there are around 16 blogs that don’t get updated anymore. Since I’m a curious reader, I try asking the authors on why they’re not writing anymore.
Many of these where full of energy and enthusiasm when they started but as months pass by, the energy level went down. They are very similar to a tornado. Started strong and suddenly disappears.
Viewed 11929 times by …

I thought it was  going to be another one of those ordinary days. The Autumn season was slowly showing it’s pretty reds, oranges and faded greens and my window pane next to the study  had a rhythmic beat from the steady Fall drizzle. As my children nestled on the corner of the couch, hypnotized by the faint drumbeats produced by Dora, I went about with my daily news reading with a few clicks of my reliable mouse.
Splashed across CNN’s website was a young man who I thought looked Filipino.  A …

Photo Credits: The Future is now
Today, I give you a brief lesson in logic. Have you heard of logical fallacies? If not, I’m sure you have encountered them many times. You probably are in the habit of committing one or two yourself, hehe. Not to worry, I’ll try to make this lesson as simple as possible, walang paduguan ng ilong. And most of all, knowledge of Latin is not a prerequisite. Okay, let’s begin.
Kelan nga ba fallacious ang isang argument. Ang simpleng sagot ay kapag mali ang reasoning, hindi konek …

Pretty much, anybody who goes around the Internet a lot knows how to use a blog. But most of the time, bloggers lose sight on the two most important things in blogging. It may be unintentionally, but losing track of these two essential things lessens one’s effectiveness as a blogger.
Viewed 20392 times by 5682 viewers

Okay class…tapos na yosi break natin. Resume na tayo:
So ayun…dumating sa punto na iniwan ko ang trabaho. Bitbit ang anak at isang dyip ng bagahe, I went back home. To live with my mother so she won’t kill herself and join my father in the after-life!
Yung 2 college, transfer sa city namin. Daily pamasahe, uwian. Si seaman bro, padala ng initial payment sa tuition. Ang succeding payments? Akin na ulit. Ang daily expenses, akin pa rin. Ang food at kuryente namin, akin pa rin. At kung anik-anik pa sa araw …

In barrio siete where I grew up,  I haven’t even gotten out of elementary school and yet the responsibilities on my shoulders were already heavy.
Heavy for a young girl. Heavy for an eldest daughter. Heavy for someone who’s supposed to be playing outside, but instead was locked-in,  on the study table, burning the midnight candle!
Kaya ayun, lumaki walang kilay!
I was that girl.
The eldest daughter.
The one who will get my family out of poverty.
The one who will send his younger brothers to college too.
Sa history ng barrio siete namin…I paved the …